PAM, 

S.  AKER. 


OF 


DESCRIBED  BY  EYE-WITNESSES. 


Rev.  he  man  DYER,  D.D., 

OF  THE  DIOCESE  OF  NEW  YOIiK. 


Rev.  albert  ZABRISKIE  GRAY, 

fcrlurrOR  OF  “  ST.  FHILJP’s  church  in  the  highlands,”  diocese  of  new  YORK* 


MANUEL  AGUAS, 


LATE  BISHOP-EEECT  OF  THE  MEXICAN  BRANCH  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

N 


Rt.  Rev.  ALFRED  LEE,  D.D., 

BISHOP  OF  DELAWARE. 


NEW  YORK: 

THOMAS  WHITTAKER,  No.  2  BIBLE  HOUSE. 


/ 


'r  .  V  A  L  D  E  S  P  I  N  O  . 

PRESBYTKIi  OF  THE  MEXICAN  BRANCH  OF  I'HE  CHURCH. 


Extracts  from  a  Statement  prepared  by  the  Rev. 

Heman  Dyer,  D.D.,  soon  after  his  return  from 

Mexico. 

In  1865  there  commenced  in  the  City  of  Mexico  a 
religious  movement,  having  reference  to  the  establish¬ 
ment  of  an  independent  Mexican  Church.  This 
movement  was  manifestly  inspired  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
and  the  Word  of  God.  For  a  time  it  was  under  the 
supervision  of  a  former  Roman  Catholic  Presbyter,  by 
the  name  of  Aguilar,  and  of  a  layman  by  the  name  of 
Hernandez.  The  Bible  was  freely  circulated.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Riley,  then  in  this  country,  heard  of  this 
work,  and  had  many  pamphlets  published  in  the  Span¬ 
ish  language,  and  sent  them  to  Mexico  for  distribution. 
The  liberal  government,  then  under  the  Presidency 
of  Benito  Juarez,  a  pure  Indian  of  the  Aztec  race, 
sympathized  with  this  movement,  and  rendered  it  such 
support  and  protection  as  it  could.  In  1868  it  had 
made  such  progress  as  to  justify  the  sending  of  a  dele¬ 
gate  to  the  United  States,  to  make  known  to  the 
Christians  here  its  character  and  its  promise.  On  reach¬ 
ing  our  city  this  delegate  petitioned  Dr.  Riley  to  go  him¬ 
self  to  Mexico.  Accordingly,  toward  the  end  of  1 868,  he 
left  New  York,  and  soon  after  was  actively  employed 
in  his  new  field  of  labor.  By  reason  of  his  birth  and 
early  training  in  a  Spanish-speaking  country,  he  had 
great  facilities  in  the  prosecution  of  his  work.  He 
was  most  cordially  received  by  the  lovers  of  a  pure 
Gospel,  and  rendered  very  effective  service.  He  con¬ 
tinued  his  labors  for  a  year  and  a  quarter,  during  which 
time  the  movement  was  organized  under  the  name  ot 
the  Church  of  Jesus  in  Mexico.  After  this  Dr.  Riley 
spent  some  time  in  the  States,  making  known  and 
advocating  the  claims  of  this  enterprise.  In  1871  he 
returned  to  Mexico,  and  was  soon  joined  by  Manuel 
Aguas,  a  very  distinguished  Presbyter  of  the  Roman 
Church.  They  secured  and  opened  the  large  church 


4 


of  St.  Joseph,  and  the  chapel  of  the  famous  church  of 
San  Francisco.  Under  the  united  labors  of  these  two 
earnest  men,  the  interest  rapidly  increased,  and  extended 
throughout  the  city  and  into  the  country. 

During  last  summer  important  documents  were 
received  from  the  laborers  in  Mexico,  and  were  sub¬ 
mitted  to  the  House  of  Bishops  of  our  Church  at  theii 
meeting  in  October.  These  documents  awakened  a 
deep  interest,  and  after  discussion  were  referred  to  a 
commission  of  seven  Bishops,  who  were  to  consider  the 
whole  subject  and  report  at  a  future  meeting.  The 
commission  appointed  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Lee,  of 
Delaware,  to  visit  Mexico,  and  make  an  examination 
of  the  work  there.  In  pursuance  of  this  appointment, 
the  Bishop,  accompanied  by  several  friends,  went  to 
Mexico  the  last  of  January,  and  remained  there  until 
the  first  of  March.  During  this  time  seven  persons 
were  ordained  to  the  ministry,  and  about  one  hundred 
and  thirty  were  confirmed.  The  work  was  found  to 
be  much  larger  and  more  wide-spread  than  was  an¬ 
ticipated.  In  the  City  of  Mexico  there  are  two 
large  congregations  and  one  Mission.  In  the  country 
districts  there  are  thirty-six  organized  congregations, 
and  many  more  unorganized.  These  congregations 
embrace  several  thousand  attendants,  many  of  whom 
are  communicants. 

From  the  foregoing,  it  will  be  seen  that  a  most  im¬ 
portant  work  is  going  on  in  Mexico  to  establish  a  pure 
branch  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in  that  country. 

To  aid  in  strengthening  and  enlarging  this  work,  the 
prayers  and  contributions  of  Christians  are  solicited. 
Funds  are  needed  to  sustain  the  laborers  already  in 
the  field,  to  increase  the  number,  to  educate  young 
men  for  the  ministry,  to  establish  an  orphanage,  to 
repair  and  open  the  grand  old  church  of  San  Francisco, 
and  to  print  and  circulate  books  and  tracts  in  the  Span¬ 
ish  language. 

O  O 


5 


Extracts  from  an  address  delivered  before  the  Ce7ir- 
tral  Board  of  the  League,  in  the  Chapel  of  Calvary 
Church,  New  York,  April  26,  1876,  by  the  Rev. 
Albert  Zabriskie  Gray,  Rector  of  ''St.  Philip'' s 
Church  hi  the  Highlands!' 

In  addressing  you  on  the  subject  of  the  important 
work  you  have  so  nobly  undertaken,  I  will  primarily 
assume  that  you  are  already  and  thoroughly  ac¬ 
quainted  with  the  main  historical  and  actual  facts  of 
the  movement.  What  you  desire,  as  I  understand,  ' 
is  additional  testimony  as  to  the  reality  and  extent  of 
the  Reformation  in  Mexico — and  what  may  be  con¬ 
sidered  its  hopes  and  prospects. 

I  went  to  Mexico  as  a  tourist,  with  rather  indefinite 
ideas  as  to  what  was  going  on  there  in  the  way  of 
Church  revival,  but  with  the  hearty  intention  of  find¬ 
ing  out  all  I  could  about  it  in  the  short  prescribed 
time  of  my  visit. 

I  cannot  but  express  my  increasing  regret  that  I 
could  not  remain  longer  in  the  country  in  order  to 
have  become  more  intimately  acquainted  with  the 
movement  both  inside  and  outside  of  the  Capital.  I 
fear  indeed  my  testimony  will  be  of  little  worth  to 
you  as  regards  details,  however  much  it  may  impress 
you  with  my  own  decided  and  cordial  convictions. 

What  did  I  find,  then,  on  my  arrival  in  the  City  of 
Mexico— -on  inquiring  for  the  “  Church  of  Jesus  }  ”  I 
found  a  grand  cathedral  church  situated  in  the  most 
conspicuous,  valuable,  and  attractive  part  of  the  city, 
its  situation  a  means  of  influence  in  itself,  with  an 
inviting  entrance  between  beds  of  blooming"  flowers 

o  o 

and  tropic  shrubbery,  and  an  interior  worthy  of  any 
of  our  metropolitan  congregations.  In  short,  we  may 
say  that  the  possession  of  this  old  historic  church  of 
San  Francisco  would  give  character  to  any  move¬ 
ment.  But  as  '^ou  are  aware,  this  is  not  all  :  they 


6 


also  have  another  imposing  and  excellent  church 
building  in  another  part  of  the  city  ;  besides,  I  be¬ 
lieve,  one  or  two  others  in  not  as  available  a  condition. 
So  much  for  the  externals,  or  rather  for  the  material 
elements,  of  the  Church  movement  here. 

Now,  what  of  the  spiritual  part  of  the  people 
themselves  ?  We  humbly  venture  to  remark  that 
nothing  could  be  more  gratifying  to  the  Christian 
observer,  nay,  we  may  add  to  the  tender  heart  of  the 
Lord  Himself,  than  the  character  of  the  congrega¬ 
tions  seen  in  these  churches  of  the  Mexican  Capital. 
They  fairly  filled  the  church,  and  worshipped  with 
an  attention  and  ardor  most  beautiful  and  edifying 
to  behold.  They  were  the  poor  and  the  lowly  of 
earth — ^  those  to  whom  and  among  whom  the  Re¬ 
deemer  first  came,  who  first,  indeed,  constituted  the 
rank  and  file  of  the  Christian  Church.  Their  sing¬ 
ing  was  one  of  the  most  impressive  and  touching 
features  of  worship  I  have  met  with  in  any  land. 

And  now  a  word  as  to  their  Clergy,  with  several 
of  whom  I  had  the  great  pleasure  of  becoming  inti¬ 
mately  acquainted.  My  heart  glows  as  it  recalls 
them  one  by  one  !  It  seems  incredible  that  in  so 
short  a  time  I  could  have  known  and  loved  so  well 
the  brethren  of  another  land  and  tongue.  Simple- 
hearted,  lowly  -  minded,  fervent  -  spirited — their  de¬ 
meanor  within  the  chancel  was  an  example  to  any 
communion,  and  outside  was  full  of  Christian  sweet¬ 
ness  and  gentleness  and  charity.  Their  Bishop-elect 
is  a  man  whose  every  look  and  word  of  humility 
and  faith  and  zeal  mark  him  as  a  worthy  successor 
to  the  lowly,  yet  princely,  Apostles  of  Galilee.  And 
his  small  band  of  Clergy  seemed  to  me  generally  of 
the  same  tone  ;  one  of  them  has  been  himself  a 
Bishop-elect  of  the  Church  of  Rome  ;  another  has 
served  as  an  army  officer,  which  should  in  itself 
suffice  to  answer  for  his  honor,  sincerity,  and  loyalty, 


7 


confirmed  as  it  is  by  his  venerable  appearance  and 
frank  devotion.  Others  of  them  are  young  men, 
almost  too  young,  it  might  seem,  for  such  thrilling 
responsibilities,  but  apparently  with  an  enthusiasm 
tempered  by  discretion  and  discipline  ;  one  or  two 
especially  struck  me  as  men  tor  whom,  under  God’s 
provident  grace,  the  most  glowing  expectations 
could  be  formed. 

And  now  what  more  shall  I  say  of  them  or  of  their 
holy  work  ?  Shall  I  speak  of  their  schools,  which 
still  proclaim  the  right  principles  and  intentions  of 
education  and  training  ?  Shall  I  tell  you  of  the 
orphanage,  where,  in  a  distant  and  secluded  part  of 
the  city,  alone  amid  inimical,  if  not  now  directly 
hostile  surroundings,  a  devoted  Christian  woman  is 
cherishing  and  elevating  a  small  band  of  orphans  — 
poor  little  social  waifs,  with  no  man  to  care  for  them 
until  “  the  Church  of  Jesus  ”  in  her  Master’s  spirit 
took  them  by  the  hand,  clothed  their  bodies  and 
warmed  their  hearts,  and  is  leading  them  gently  into 
and  along  the  way  of  life  ?  Could  I  but  take  some 
of  those  with  me,  who  are  anxious  to  help  on  the 
Master’s  work  wherever  truly  found,  to  visit  that 
sweet  oasis  of  Christian  life  and  love  in  semi-heathen 
Mexico — to  look  upon  those  little  expressive  faces, 
to  listen  to  their  thrilling  hymns  and  to  see  their 
crying  needs — could  I  be  thus  privileged,  I  feel 
entirely  assured  the  orphanage  of  this  “  Chui  cli  of 
Jesus”  in  the  City  of  Mexico  would  need  no  longer 
to  appeal  for  Christian  sympathy  and  aid. 

In  presenting  to  you  these  somewhat  random  re¬ 
marks  on  the  subject  of  the  Mexican  Church  move¬ 
ment  of  Reform,  some  of  you  may  be  disposed  to 
ask  :  Are  there  no  drawbacks  in  the  matter  ?  There 
are.  Funds  are  needed  for  the  support  of  the  work 
of  the  Church,  You  are  aware  that  the  Clergy  are 
poor  men,  who  have  sacrificed  what  little  they 


8 


had  of  temporal  means  and  vocation,  as  well  as  of 
social  influence  and  support,  in  the  cause  of  the  Mas¬ 
ter,  Jesus,  and  His  holy  Church.  Brought  up  as  we 
are  with  everything  to  favor  our  pure  and  undefiled 
Christianity,  it  is  almost  impossible  here  to  realize 
how  in  that  beautiful  land  a  profession  of  Protestant 
or  truly  Catholic  faith  amounts  to  almost  a  complete 
ostracism — makes  a  social  Pariah  of  a  man.  Besides, 
their  congregations,  to  their  glory,  as  also  to  their 
claim  upon  our  Christian  hearts,  are  the  poor  and 
lowly  of  earth,  who,  if  they  can  keep  bread  in  their 
children’s  rnouths,  the  wolf  from  their  own  door,  are 
doing  well,  and  who  can,  therefore,  do  little  for  the 
support  of  those  whom  God  has  set  spiritually  over 
them.  These  men,  therefore,  these  gentle  -  hearted 
and  devoted  Clergy,  in  order  to  do  their  great  and 
peculiarly  responsible  work,  must  be  in  some  way 
supported  ;  and  I  assure  you,  my  dear  brethren,  they 
have  been  doing  it  hitherto  on  the  pittance  we  pay 
our  men  menials  at  home. 

I  can  not  forbear  allusion  to  the  humble  and  holy 
spirit  of  our  Mexican  brethren  toward  those  who, 
with  a  sadly  mistaken  zeal,  have  seen  fit  to  persecute 
them,  even  “  for  righteousness’  sake.  ’ 

We  have  spoken  of  the  pressing  demands  of  this 
great  Mission  work — a  work  so  vast,  indeed,  that  in 
surveying  its  glorious  possibilities,  if  not  probabilities, 
the  Christian  eye  must  pass  through  central  and 
southern  and  even  tropic  zones,  till  only  arrested  by 
the  silent  seas  that  bound  the  further  shores  of  mil¬ 
lions  lying  fast  bound  in  the  visible  darkness. 

Of  such  work  I  have  sought  thus  imperfectly  to 
speak  to  you,  believing  that,  under  God,  you  are 
called  to  one  of  the  grandest  tasks  and  responsi¬ 
bilities  ever  committed  to  His  Church. 


f 

f 


M  A  N  U  E  L  A  CJ  U  A  S  , 

LATE  BISHOP-ELECT  OF  THE  MEXICAN  BRANCH  OF  THE  CHURCH 


Extracts  from  the  translation  of  a  letter  from 

Manuel  Agttas. 

Mexico,  October,  1871. 

I  HAVE  learned  that  you  take  a  sincere  and  practical 
interest  in  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  this  Re¬ 
public  of  Mexico — a  nation  until  now  sadly  unfortunate 
— unfortunate  because  it  has  not  enjoyed  the  blessings 
of  true  religion. 

The  Lord  has,  most  clearly  and  signally,  blessed  the 
Christian  efforts  that  you  have  made  in  our  behalf. 
Let  me  tell  you  how  :  You  contributed  funds  in  behalf 
of  Gospel  work  in  this,  my  native  land.  Part  of  these 
funds  were  employed  in  the  publication  of  Christian 
pamphlets,  which  were  widely  distributed  here.  These 
publications  were  the  instrumentality  that  the  Lord 


lO 


selected,  in  order  that  I  might  begin  to  realize  the 
spiritual  blindness  in  which  I  found  myself.  I  was  a 
presbyter  in  the  Roman  Church,  and  most  anxiously 
longed  for  salvation.  With  all  sincerity  did  I  follow 
the  errors  of  that  idolatrous  sect,  and  imagined  Prot¬ 
estantism,  or  true  Christianity,  was  coming  to  make  us, 
in  Mexico,  more  unfortunate  than  ever.  I,  consequently, 
opposed  its  doctrines  with  all  my  power.  I  sincerely 
thought  that,  in  so  doing,  I  did  good  service  to  my 
native  land.  How  unfortunate  was  I !  I  knew  that 
Jesus  Christ  had  died  for  us;  but  that  most  precious 
belief  was  to  iPiC  obscured,  because  from  childhood  I 
had  been  taught,  that  in  order  to  obtain  salvation, 
besides  the  merits  of  the  Redeemer,  the  meritorious 
works  of  men  were  also  needed ;  as  if,  forsooth,  the 
sacrifice  of  Calvary  was  not  enough  to  save  the  soul 
that  truly  tmsts  in  it.  Being  imbued  with  these  Romish 
errors,  it  is  not  strange  that  I  should  oppose  and  attack 
true  Christianity ;  that  I  should  frequently  declaim 
against  it  in  the  pulpit ;  that  I  should  go  to  the  confes¬ 
sional  in  search  of  a  remedy  for  my  spiritual  evils  ;  and, 
as  one  precipice  often  leads  to  another,  I  prayed  to  the 
Virgin  Mary  and  to  the  saints,  and  endeavored  to  gain 
all  the  indulgences  possible  ;  all  which  practices  offend 
and  tend  to  dishonor  Jesus,  our  generous  Saviour. 

As  a  natural  consequence,  I  had  not  obtained  peace 
for  my  soul ;  and  I  was  tmly  unfortunate,  because  I 
observed  with  sorrow  that,  after  all  I  did,  my  heart 
remained  unconverted  and  dragged  me  often  into  sin. 

I  was  in  this  sad  state  when  there  reached  me  the 
pamphlet  called  “  True  Liberty.”  I  read  it  most  care¬ 
fully  ;  and,  notwithstanding  that  I  tried  to  find,  in  the 
arsenal  of  my  Romish  sublctics,  arguments  with  which 
to  answer  the  clear  reasoning  that  I  found  in  this  pub¬ 
lication,  a  voice  within — the  voice  of  my  conscience — 
told  me  that  my  answers  were  not  satisfactory,  and 
that  perhaps  1  was  in  error. 


I  commenced  to  reject  the  errors  of  Romanism,  and 
dedicated  myself  to  the  study  of  all  the  Protestant 
books  and  pamphlets  that  I  could  lay  my  hands  on. 
I  carefully  read  the  History  of  the  Reformation  in  the 
Sixteenth  Century,  by  Merle  D’Aubigne,  and,  above 
all,  I  commenced  to  study  the  Bible,  without  paying 
any  attention  to  the  Romish  notes  and  interpretations. 
This  study,  from  the  moment  that  it  was  accompanied 
by  earnest  prayer,  led  me  to  true  happiness.  I  com¬ 
menced  to  see  the  light.  The  Lord  had  pity  on  me, 
and  enabled  me  to  clearly  understand  the  great  truths 
of  the  Gospel. 

I  first  realized  that  it  is  false — most  false — that  salva¬ 
tion  is  only  found  in  the  Roman  Church,  aS'  the 
Romanists  pretend.  But  what  completely  convinced 
me  of  the  falseness  of  the  Romish  system,  was  the 
finding  that  after  I  distrusted  my  own  natural  strength 
and  trusted  in  Jesus  alone,  abandoning  all  other  inter¬ 
cessors,  and  believing  that  true  safety,  salvation,  and 
the  remedy  for  our  guilt  are  alone  to  be  found  in  the 
sacrifice  of  Calvary,  I  felt  a  great  change  in  my  heart ; 
my  feelings  were  different ;  what  formerly  pleased  me, 
now  was  repugnant  to  me ;  I  felt  real  and  positive 
sentiments  of  love  and  charity  towards  my  brethren — 
sentiments  which  before  were  fictitious  and  artificial  in 
me ;  in  a  word,  I  found  the  long-desired  peace  of  my 
soul.  By  the  grace  of  the  Lord,  I  was  enabled  to 
resist  temptations,  and  passed  a  quiet,  peaceful,  and 
happy  life.  As  I  had  dedicated  several  years  to  the 
study  of  medicine,  I  was  able  to  maintain  myself  by 
this  profession.  In  the  evening  I  read  the  Holy 
Seriptures  to  my  household,  and  prayed  with  them. 

Although  all  this  was  very  agreeable  to  me,  it  was 
not  just  that  I  should  continue  inactive  in  the  Gospel 
cause.  I  soon  commenced  to  think  that  I  was  in  con¬ 
science  bound  to  participate  with  my  brethren  the  hap¬ 
piness  I  enjoyed,  and  especially  so,  as  I  had  much 


12 


facility  in  speaking  to  multitudes,  from  my  long  prac¬ 
tice  and  experience  in  preaching  that  I  had  had  while  yet 
a  Roman  Catholic.  I  determined  to  manifest,  publicly, 
that  I  had  separated  myself  from  the  Roman  Church ► 
and  that  I  had  joined  the  true  Church  of  Jesus.  But 
in  order  to  take  this  step  I  found  myself  laboring 
under  great  difficulties,  which  the  devil  would  fain  have 
me  believe  to  be  insurmountable.  The  idea  of  poverty 
from  want  of  a  livelihood  presented  itself  to  me  with 
all  its  deformity  ;  as  I  was  aware  that  the  moment  I 
made  such  a  declaration,  the  Roman  Bishop  would  ex¬ 
communicate  me,  and,  as  I  lived  among  an  essentially 
fanatic  people,  I  felt  sure  that  not  only  my  patients 
would  abandon  me  immediately,  but  that  my  friends 
would  turn  a  cold  shoulder  upon  me  and  also  abandon 
me,  and  that  my  life  would  be  menaced,  and  attacks 
made  against  it.  These  and  other  considerations  entered 
my  mind,  and  I  imagine  that  Satan  augmented  them 
so  as  to  try  and  swerve  me  from  accomplishing  the 
holy  resolution  that  I  had  adopted. 

Nevertheless,  my  resolution  was  unshaken,  and  I 
commenced  to  attend  the  Provisional  Protestant 
Church,  which  had  been  established  in  a  large  hall 
situated  in  the  street  of  San  Juan  de  Letran.  Being 
short-sighted,  I  there  began  to  know  my  dear  brother, 
the  Rev.  Henry  Chauncey  Riley,  solely  by  his  voice. 
It  filled  me  with  comfort  to  hear  him  speak  of  Jesus 
and  His  precious  blood  ;  the  liturgy  and  hymns  which 
the  congregation  used,  enchanted  me,  as  they  were  full 
of  the  pure  faith  of  the  primitive  Christian  ;  and  I 
anxiously  desired  the  arrival  of  Sundays,  because,  in 
our  church  services,  I  enjoyed  delicious  moments  of 
peace  and  joy — Christian  emotions  that  I  had  never 
felt  in  the  Roman  sect. 

I  had  for  some  time  been  thinking  how  to  become 
personally  acquainted  with  my  brother  Henry.  One 
night,  as  I  was  at  one  of  our  churches,  I  heard  my 


13 

brother  preach  with  so  much  valor  and  faith,  that  I 
become  quite  ashamed  of  myself,  and  was  filled  with  a 
holy  envy  of  that  Chilian  who,  in  Mexico,  in  the  midst 
of  the  most  loathsome  idolatry,  and  surrounded  by 
enemies,  presented  himself  as  an  intrepid  soldier  of 
Jesus,  ready  to  lay  down  his  life  for  his  divine  Captain- 
I  then  was  determined  to  present  myself  to  him  alone, 
and  to  give  him  a  fraternal  greeting,  exclaiming :  “We 
are  brothers ;  our  cause  is  the  same ;  let  us  unite  our 
efforts,  and,  strengthened  by  our  adorable  Saviour,  let 
us  contend  for  the  faith  of  Jesus,  even  though  we  per¬ 
ish  in  the  contest.” 

Various  persons  had  spoken  to  my  brother  Riley 
about  me.  I  was  presented  to  him  by  an  elderly 
gentleman,  who  is  a  Protestant.  VVe  had  a  long  inter¬ 
view,  in  which  we  were  convinced  that  we  were  brothers 
in  the  faith  ;  we  loved  one  another  ;  and,  since  then, 
we  work  together  unitedly.  Our  Lord  God  has  deigned 
to  bless  our  work  ;  for,  notwithstanding  the  intense 
and  furious  persecution  that  the  Romanists  have  raised 
against  me,  the  number  of  true  Christians  is  increasing 
most  marvellously  in  Mexico. 

We  have  opened  the  church  of  the  former  Roman 
Catholic  Convent  of  San  Jose  dc  Gracia  to  the  public, 
and  a  large  congregation  now  attends  there.  We  have 
established  a  Christian  Association,  and  also  classes  for 
young  men  who  want  to  study  for  the  ministry.  In 
Central  Mexico  we  have  some  fifty  Christian  congre¬ 
gations,  and  their  numbers  arc  increasing  rapidly,  even 
among  the  smaller  towns,  where  our  brethren  often 
suffer  the  most  terrible  persecutions  from  the  Roman 
Catholic  curates  and  fanatics.  The  Romanists  have 
burned  the  houses  of  some  of  our  fellow-Christians, 
wounding  men,  women,  and  children,  in  their  efforts  to 
check  the  progress  of  the  Gospel  in  Mexico ;  but,  in 
spite  of  all  their  efforts,  we  have  the  consolation  of 
knowing  that  the  sacred  light  of  the  Gospel,  which  is 


14 


now  so  brightly  shining  in  my  native  land,  and  increas¬ 
ing  in  splendor  every  day,  will  not  be  darkened,  even 
with  all  the  efforts  that  our  persecutors  are  making 
against  it. 

By  this  brief  account  of  the  progress  of  the  Gospel 
in  Mexico,  you  can  see  that  we  have  reason  to  hope 
that  the  Gospel  seed  already  sown  here  will  soon  give 
the  best  and  choicest  fruits  of  holiness. 

Allow  me  to  heartily  thank  you  for  what  you  have 
done  in  our  behalf  Part  of  your  contribution  for 
Mexico  was  converted  into  Christian  pamphlets,  that 
were  widely  and  effectively  circulated  here.  One  of 
these  arrived  at  my  sad  dwelling,  where  I  was  despair¬ 
ingly  suffering  because  I  had  not  been  able  to  find 
peace  for  my  soul,  finding  myself,  as  I  then  did,  in  the 
darkness  of  Roman  idolatry;  but,  from  the  time  that 
I  read  that  Christian  pamphlet — little  esteemed  by  the 
worldly,  but  most  precious  to  me  as  containing  tie 
Divine  Truth — the  Lord  commenced  to  lead  me,  little 
by  little,  in  a  manner  at  once  sweet  and  powerful, 
without  in  the  least  wounding  my  free  will,  until  He 
guided  me  into  the  glorious  light  of  faith,  where,  by  the 
Lord’s  help,  with  the  Bible  in  my  hand,  I  have  suc¬ 
ceeded  in  making  the  Roman  magnates  in  thi.>  capital 
tremble  with  dread  and  consternation. 

By  what  I  have  already  said,  you  will  clearly  under¬ 
stand  that  these  are  solemn  moments  for  my  native 
land,  as  these  may  have  much  to  do  with  her  future 
happiness.  The  admirable  religious  movement  that  is 
now  making  such  rapid  progress  in  this  republic,  is 
likely  soon  to  spread  the  Gospel  in  its  purity  far  and 
wide  throughout  this  nation,  and  lead  to  a  great  refor¬ 
mation  in  the  Mexican  Church.  This  reformation  is 
absolutely  needed.  Our  society  is  divided  between 
“Liberals”  and  “Conservative  Romanists.”  The 
“  Liberals”  have  plunged  into  the  dark  horrors  of  infi¬ 
delity,  and  arc  the  slaves  of  their  evil  inclinations  ;  the 


^5 


Romanists  arc  the  slaves  of  the  tyrant  of  Rome.  In  a 
word,  true  religion  has  not  been  the  foundation  of  our 
society.  The  results  of  this  want  have  been  fratricidal 
wars,  insecurity,  avarice,  poverty,  and  misery.  Scenes 
of  wickedness  have  been  the  schools  where  our  Mexi¬ 
can  children  have  been  educated. 

Such  a  heart-rending  picture  ought  to  fill  Christians 
with  sorrow.  They  ought  to  ask  thcmsch'cs  :  “Why 
should  Mexico  find  itself  on  the  border  of  a  precipice 
where  deepest  ruin  threatens .?  ” 

The  answer  is  a  very  simple  one.  Allow  me  to 
point  it  out  with  frankness,  but  without  meaning  to 
give  the  slightest  offence,  for  I  love  you  for  Jesus 
Christ’s  sake.  Having  made  this  observation,  I  must 
say  that  all  you  who  compose  the  true  Church  of  Christ 
in  that  country  neighboring  to  ours  are  partly  to  blame 
for  our  misfortunes.  I  know  that  you  are  true  Chris¬ 
tians  ;  I  know  that  you  send  your  missionaries  to  re¬ 
mote  parts  of  the  world,  where  you  generously  and  dis¬ 
interestedly  aid  the  Gospel  work.  Why,  then,  have 
you  for  so  many  years  forgotten  your  brethren,  who, 
by  your  very  side,  have  been  without  the  bread  of  the 
divine  word  }  Why  do  you  allow  them  to  perish,  and 
to  sink,  day  by  day,  into  deeper  ignorance  and  fanati¬ 
cism It  is  well  and  good  that  you  should  exercise 
your  charity  with  those  people  to  whom  you  send  the 
light  of  the  Gospel,  however  distant  they  may  be  ;  but 
this  is  no  reason  why  you  should  leave  the  Mexicans 
by  )mur  very  side  in  the  darkness  of  idolatry.  I  am 
su.c  that  you  and  your  friends  will  agree  with  me,  that 
it  is  necessary  to  do  what  is  possible,  in  order  that  the 
true  faith  may  be  extended  throughout  this,  my  native 
land.  If  you  think  on  this  subject  with  earnest  prayer 
to  God,  your  consciences  will  call  upon  you  to  fulfil 
this  duty  as  Christians.  God  has  not  in  vain  bestowed 
on  your  wealthy  Church,  riches,  nor  in  vain  has  He  en¬ 
dowed  you  with  generous  hearts. 


i6 


We  are  greatly  in  want  of  pecuniary  aid  to  defend 
the  Gospel  cause  in  Mexico  from  our  fanatical  enemies, 
among  whom  are  very  rich  and  powerful  persons,  who 
spend  their  money  lavishly  in  publishing  newspapers 
and  other  publications  to  try  and  crush  us ;  who  refit 
churches  with  splendor,  where  they  maintain  “  Paul¬ 
inos,”  who  declaim  day  and  night  against  us. 

In  the  meanwhile,  we  who  work  in  the  harvest  of 
the  Lord  are  very  much  checked  in  our  work  for  want 
of  the  necessary  resources.  With  sorrow  do  we  con¬ 
stantly  sec  most  promising  opportunities  that  are  offered 
us  for  doing  miost  precious  and  important  Christian 
work  lost  for  lack  of  the  needed  funds. 

For  example,  we  have  now  the  church  of  San  Fran¬ 
cisco,  a  splendid  edifice,  the  first  in  this  city,  after  the 
Cathedral,  and  more  central  than  the  latter.  It  is  an 
immense  building,  of  an  elevated  and  elegant  form, 
where  the  architect  who  directed  the  work  realized  his 
daring  and  magnificent  idea.  This  church  is  a  veiy 
convenient  one  to  preach  in,  as  it  has  no  echo  and  the 
voice  can  easily  be  heard  there.  This  I  well  know 
from  having  preached  in  it  when  it  was  a  Roman 
Catholic  church.  We  are  sure  that  as  soon  as  we  can 
repair  and  open  it  for  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  it 
will  be  filled  with  a  numerous  conm'eoration.  When 
shall  we  be  able  to  do  this  }  We  know  not.  We  are 
collecting  funds  here  to  aid  in  its  restoration  among 
our  brethren,  but  most  of  them  are  poor  and  can  give 
but  little,  and  therefore  the  work  of  reparation  on  the 
said  church  goes  on  very  slowly.  This  delay  is  to  us  a 
cause  of  great  sorrow.  Will  you  and  your  friends  aid 
us  so  as  to  push  forward  this  work  as  quickly  as  pos¬ 
sible  }  I  beseech  you  to  make  a  generous  effort ;  and 
as  you  have  already  commenced  to  aid  the  Christian 
work  in  Mexico,  I  trust  that  you  will  continue  to  help 
us.  We  have  reason  to  hope  that  this  Christian 


17 


Church  established  in  Mexico  will  extend  its  influence 
throughout  all  these  Latin  countries. 

We  sadly  need  funds  for  our  Theological  Seminary 
to  educate  young  men  for  the  ministry,  and  also  to 
enable  us  to  publish  Christian  pamphlets  and  a  few 
books. 

It  is  yet  time  for  you  and  your  friends  to  save  this 
Chureh.  At  present,  although  she  is  terribly  persecuted 
by  the  Romanists,  she  is  beautiful  and  innocent,  because 
she  preserves  the  pure  white  vesture  of  the  faith  in  all 
its  purity.  This  Church  is  your  younger  sister,  and 
should  have  your  love  and  fraternal  care,  and  it  is 
necessaiy  that  you  should  not  abandon  her,  but  that 
you  help  her  with  the  funds  she  requires. 

Manuel  Aguas. 


Extracts  from  a  Statement  prepared  by  the  Right 

Rev.  Alfred  Lee,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  Delaware,  after 

his  rettLrn  from  Mexico. 

Spiritual  light  is  now  breaking  upon  Mexico,  and 
within  the  last  ten  years  a  movement  has  been  in 
progress  in  that  Republic,  full  of  promise  and  hope. 
Viewed  in  its  origin,  nature,  and  growth,  and  in  con¬ 
nection  with  the  country  in  which  it  appeared,  it  may 
be  considered  one  of  the  remarkable  movements  of  the 
age.  It  certainly  has  strong  claims  upon  the  attention 
and  sympathy  of  the  lovers  of  Scriptural  truth  and  pure 
primitive  Christianity.  And  to  none  does  it  appeal 
more  forcibly  than  to  members  of  the  Protestant  Epis¬ 
copal  Church  in  the  United  States.  Romanism,  how¬ 
ever  deeply  rooted  in  the  sacred  associations,  early 
prejudices,  and  social  habits  of  the  people,  has  no  longer 
an  undisputed  field.  A  new  communion  has  arisen, 


i8 


presenting  the  faith  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  a 
widely  different  aspect,  and  from  small  beginnings  has 
been  rapidly  spreading.  Of  the  origin  and  history  of 
this  infant  Church  a  brief  outline  will  be  now  pre¬ 
sented. 

Of  this  plant,  now  growing  so  vigorously,  it  may  be 
emphatically  said,  “The  Seed  was  the  Word  of  God.” 
It  sprang  up  from  the  bosom  of  the  Papal  Communion 
through  the  silent  influence  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 
When  the  attempt  was  made  to  seat  the  unfortunate 
Maximilian  upon  the  throne  of  Mexico,  advantage  was 
taken  of  the  new  condition  of  things  to  introduce  a 
considerable  supply  of  copies  of  the  Bible  in  the  Span¬ 
ish  tongue.  The  book  found  readers.  Some  of  the 
precious  seed  fell  upon  ground  prepared  by  Divine 
grace  for  its  reception.  Among  those  thus  enlightened 
was  a  presbyter  named  Francisco  Aguilar.  Upon  him 
the  reading  of  the  volume  produced  like  effects  as  upon 
Luther  in  the  convent  of  Erfurth.  He  not  only  rejoiced 
in  the  discovery  which  was  so  precious  to  his  own  soul, 
but  he  longed  to  extend  to  others  the  blessings  he  had 
found.  By  him  the  first  Protestant  congregation,  for 
the  worship  of  God  in  the  Spanish  tongue  and  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel,  was  gathered  in  the  City  of 
Mexico.  The  thought  of  Aguilar  was  to  establish  a 
ixeformed  Catholic  Church,  evangelical  in  doctrine  and 
assimilated  in  model  and  polity  to  the  primitive  Apos¬ 
tolic  pattern.  He  began  with  a  little  congregation  of 
about  fifty  persons,  which  increased  steadily  under  his 
assiduous  labors.  But  his  course  was  a  brief  one.  His 
own  exertions  were  exhausting,  and  persecution,  none 
the  less  malignant  if  restrained  from  actual  violence, 
was  exceedingly  harassing.  VVithin  two  years  he  suc¬ 
cumbed,  pressing,  in  his  last  moments,  the  Bible  to  his 
heart.  Among  his  papers  was  found  the  translation  ot 
a  little  volume,  in  which  the  right  and  duty  of  every 
man  to  search  tl.e  Scriptures  was  powerfully  argued. 


‘9 


This  was  published  by  the  Rev.  H.  C.  Riley,  and 
proved  an  effective  ally  to  his  work. 

The  attention  of  the  bereaved  flock  was  directed  to 
a  Presbyter  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
United  States,  of  American  parentao^e,  but  of  Chilian 
birth  and  education,  who  was  ministering  in  the  Span¬ 
ish  tongue  to  an  Episcopal  congregation  in  the  city 
of  New  York.  In  view  of  the  admirable  fitness  of  the 
Rev.  Henry  C.  Riley  for  the  work  in  Mexico,  it  is  no 
presumption  to  recognize  the  hand  of  God  in  this  call. 
It  was  a  startling  summons  to  Mr.  Riley,  urging  him 
to  leave  his  kindred  and  congregation  for  a  post  of  cer¬ 
tain  danger  and  uncertain  results.  After  examining  all 
the  difficulties  and  perils  involved,  Mr.  Riley  decided 
to  give  himself  to  the  work.  Constrained  by  the  love 
of  Christ  and  zeal  for  the  extension  of  His  kingdom, 
he  “  counted  not  his  life  dear  unto  himself,  and  none 
of  these  things  moved  him.”  He  went  on  his  own  re¬ 
sponsibility  and  mainly  at  his  own  charges.  Arriving 
in  Mexico  in  1869,  he  re-collected,  as  far  as  practicable, 
the  scattered  flock  of  Aguilar,  teaching  both  publicly 
and  from  house  to  house.  He  labored  not  less  effect¬ 
ively  with  his  pen,  circulating  numbers  of  tracts  explan¬ 
atory  of  the  great  doctrines  of  the  Gospel.  He  soon 
attracted  public  attention,  and  the  jealous  eyes  of  the 
dominant  Church  watched  him  with  inquisitorial  vigi¬ 
lance.  A  Catholic  Society,  with  a  layman  for  Presi¬ 
dent,  was  formed  with  the  express  object  of  counter¬ 
acting  his  growing  influence.  But,  in  spite  of  oppo¬ 
sition,  Mr.  Riley’s  hearers  multiplied.  He  obtained 
from  the  Government  one  of  the  sequestrated  con¬ 
ventual  churches,  San  Jose  de  Gracia,  and  prepared  to 
transfer  thither  his  scrviccs.  The  rage  of  his  enemies 
waxed  hot.  The  Romish  party,  unable  to  crush  him 
by  violence,  determined  to  employ  argument.  For 
this  purpose  they  selected  one  of  the  most  eminent  and 
learned  ecclesiastics  of  the  capital,  Manuel  Aguas,  a 


20 


Dominican  friar,  and  very  popular  as  a  preacher.  He 
examined  Mr.  Riley’s  publications  with  the  intention 
of  preparing  a  refutation.  But  the  Lord  led  him  by  a 
way  that  he  knew  not.  He  was  himself  vanquished 
by  the  power  of  the  truth.  “  There  fell  from  his  eyes 
as  it  had  been  scales.”  He  discovered  that  he  had 
been  all  his  life  in  darkness,  and  that  the  work  he  had 
undertaken  to  oppose  was  of  the  Lord.  He  sought 
personal  conference  with  Mr.  Riley,  and  after  painful 
conflict  and  deep  searchings  of  heart,  he  joined  himself 
to  that  which  he  had  been  wont  to  look  upon  as  an 
odious  sect.  This  open  adhesion  to  the  new  doctrine 
was  a  shock  to  his  former  assoeiates  not  unlike  that 
occasioned  by  the  conversion  of  Saul  of  Tarsus.  The 
church  of  San  Jose  de  Gracia  was  about  to  be  occu¬ 
pied  by  the  eongregation  under  Dr.  Riley’s  care.  Loud 
and  deep  were  the  threats.  What  added  fuel  to  the 
flame  was  the  announcement  that  the  preacher  on  that 
occasion  would  be  none  other  than  Manuel  Aguas! 
With  Apostolic  boldness  the  converted  friar  ascended 
the  pulpit,  and  before  an  immense  audience  proelaimed 
the  Gospel.  The  favoring  hand  of  God  averted  the 
danger.  Manuel  Aguas  coneluded  his  sermon  without 
interruption,  and  went  forward  with  zeal  and  intrepidity 
in  his  new  vocation.  From  that  time  he  was  united 
with  Mr.  Riley  in  the  oversight  of  the  Chureh.  He 
v/as  elected  its  first  Bishop,  and  had  every  qualification 
for  a  leader.  Trained  in  all  the  learning  of  the  Rom¬ 
ish  school,  and  conversant  with  the  system  of  internal 
administration,  he  eould  speak  intelligently  upon  all 
the  points  that  came  under  discussion.  Of  unblemished 
character  as  well  as  great  intellectual  powers,  he  com¬ 
manded  the  respect  of  his  bitterest  enemies.  Embrac¬ 
ing  the  grand  verities  of  the  Gospel  with  simple,  child¬ 
like  faith,  and  proelaiming  them  with  fervor  and 
eloquence,  he  attracted  Large  numbers  to  hear  the 
Word,  and  had  the  entire  confidence  and  affection  of 


21 


the  flock  to  whom  he  ministered.  He  seemed,  indeed, 
precisely  the  man  for  the  arduous  and  important  charge 
for  which  he  had  been  selected,  “  a  chosen  vessel  of  the 
Lord.” 

The  anger  and  astonishment  created  among  his  old 
associates  may  be  imagined.  He  was,  of  course,  speed¬ 
ily  excommunicated,  but  his  enemies  could  not,  as  a 
former  generation  would  have  done,  consign  him  to 
the  tender  mercies  of  the  Inquisition.  Pie  was  chal¬ 
lenged  to  a  public  disputation.  This  he  gladly  accepted, 
and  named  as  the  question  for  discussion,  “Is  the 
Church  of  Rome  guilty  of  idolatry.?”  Public  expec¬ 
tation  was  intensely  aroused,  and  on  the  day  appointed 
thousands  wended  their  way  to  San  Jose.  Great  pre¬ 
cautions  were  taken  by  the  friends  of  Aguas  for  his 
safety.  It  was  with  difficulty  that  way  was  made  for 
him  through  the  dense  masses  to  the  platform.  But 
when  he  arrived,  his  antagonist  did  not  make  his 
appearance.  The  Roman  authorities  had  thought  bet¬ 
ter  of  it,  and  concluded  not  to  allow  the  discussion. 
Their  selected  theologian,  who  in  good  faith  had  been 
preparing  himself,  was  sent  to  a  distant  place.  Aguas 
v/as  alone.  He  had  the  field  to  himself,  and  he  did 
not  fail  to  take  advantage  of  the  great  opportunity. 
He  boldly  accused  Rome  of  the  sin  of  idolatry,  and 
sustained  the  charge  by  convincing  proofs.  Strange 
things  were  brought  to  the  ears  of  many  of  his  auditors, 
and  the  shock  given  on  that  day  to  the  Roman  system 
was  a  heavy  one. 

Aguas  was  busy  with  his  pen  as  well  as  in  his  public 
ministry.  In  particular  he  replied  to  the  sentence  of 
excommunication  in  a  tract,  which,  for  forcible  style 
and  keen  sarcasm,  is  worthy  to  be  compared  with  “  The 
Provincial  Letters  ”  of  Pascal. 

Through  the  labors  of  Aguas,  Riley,  and  some  faith¬ 
ful  helpers,  the  work  prospered  greatly,  and  extended 
from  the  capital  to  neighboring  towns  and  villages, 


A  simple  liturgy  was  prepared,  and  proved  a  veiy 
efficient  aid  in  diffusing  the  principles  of  the  Gospel 
and  building  up  congregations.  Biblc-readers,  men 
unversed  in  scholastic  lore,  but  full  of  faith  and  zeal, 
carried  the  glad  tidings  from  village  to  village,  experi¬ 
encing  often  the  same  treatment  as  the  first  heralds  of 
the  cross,  but  persevering  and  undismayed.  In  the 
City  of  Mexico  an  important  acquisition  was  made  in 
the  purchase  of  another  of  the  old  conventual  churches, 
San  Francisco.  This  is  a  magnificent  edifice,  in  which 
an  audience  of  two  thousand  might  be  assembled,  with 
a  chapel  adjacent  capable  of  accommodating  three  hun¬ 
dred  persons,  situated  on  the  principal  street  of  the 
city.  The  church  is  only  inferior  to  the  cathedral  in 
dimensions,  and  of  a  better  style  of  architecture.  It  is 
every  way  suited  to  be  a  centre  of  mission  work. 
H  itherto  the  chapel  only  has  been  used,  but  efforts  arc 
now  made  to  put  the  church  in  repair,  and  great  advan¬ 
tages  arc  anticipated  from  its  use  in  public  worship. 

The  course  of  Aguas,  like  that  of  Aguilar,  was  soon 
terminated.  In  labors  he  was  most  abundant,  preach¬ 
ing  from  twelve  to  fifteen  sermons  a  week  in  addition 
to  manifold  cares  of  oversight  and  pastoral  duty.  Under 
these  exertions,  as  well  as  the  harassing  effects  of  per¬ 
secution  and  calumny  upon  a  sensitive  spirit,  his  health 
gave  way.  In  1872  he  rested  from  his  labors.  At 
this  time  Mr.  Riley  was  absent,  having  been  detained 
in  New  York.  The  infant  Church  suffered  greatly 
from  this  sore  bereavement.  Under  these  circum¬ 
stances  a  petition  was  forw'ardcd  by  the  Synod  of 
the  Church  to  the  House  of  Bishops  of  the  Prot¬ 
estant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States, 
praying  them  to  take  measures  for  conveying  to  the 
Church  in  Mexico  the  Episcopal  office,  offering  to  give 
guarantees  respecting  faith  and  order.  This  petition 
was  presented  to  the  Bishops  in  October,  1874,  and 
led  to  the  appointment  of  a  Mexican  Commission,  con- 


23 


sistin,"  of  seven  Bishops,  at  whose  request  the  writer 
visited  Mexico  for  personal  examination  and  conference 
during  the  last  winter,  accompanied  by  the  Rev,  H. 
Dyer,  D.D.,  of  New  York. 

From  the  beginning  the  ideal  in  the  minds  of  the 
leaders  of  this  movement  was  a  Church  purified  from 
Romish  errors  and  corruptions,  but  retaining  the  prim¬ 
itive  constitution  of  the  Spanish  Ante-Nicene  Church, 
and  closely  allied  to  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
in  the  United  States.  The  hope  was  cherished  at  the 
outset  of  obtaining  the  adhesion  of  one  of  the  Mexican 
Bishops,  and  thus  perpetuating  the  ministry  in  the 
order  which  they  desired,  but  the  way  was  not  then 
opened.  Afterwards,  having  elected  Aguas  as  their 
future  Bishop,  they  looked  forward  to  the  day  when  he 
could  be  consecrated  to  his  office.  Disappointed  in 
this  earnest  desire,  they  still  waited  patiently  without 
resorting  to  any  other  mode  of  ordination.  Men  who 
felt  themselves  called  by  the  Holy  Spirit  testified  to 
their  countrymen  the  doctrines  of  Salvation.  So  far 
as  possible  the  sacraments  were  ministered  by  Dr.  Riley 
and  converted  presbyters.  It  was  a  memorable  day,  Feb. 
24,  1 8 75,  when  the  first  ordination  in  Mexico  was  held 
by  a  Protestant  Bishop.  The  full  service  of  our  Church 
in  the  Spanish  tongue  was  used,  the  sermon  being 
preached  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Riley.  After  the  service 
the  emotion  shown  was  very  touching,  the  newly- 
ordained  Deacons  throwing  themselves  into  each 
other’s  arms  and  weeping  for  joy.  As  it  was  so  uncer¬ 
tain  when  another  opportunity  would  be  presented, 
ordination  to  the  Presbyterate  followed  a  few  days 
after. 

The  doctrines  of  the  “  Church  of  Jesus  ”  are  in  accord 
with  the  Creeds  and  Articles  of  the  Protestant  Epis¬ 
copal  Church.  As  in  the  era  of  the  Reformation,  the 
revulsion  from  Rome  is  strong  and  decided.  Papal 
corruption  and  oppression  arc  to  them  fearful  realities. 


24 


Those  who  have  given  up  friends  and  prospects  of 
earthly  advantage,  and  are  hazarding  their  lives  in  the 
struggle  for  a  pure  faith,  are  not  inclined  to  compromise 
with  such  an  enemy.  Two  doctrines  especially  hold 
in  their  minds  the  same  high  position  with  which  they 
were  regarded  by  the  champions  of  the  Reformation — 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  the  standard  of  faith  and  practice, 
and  the  right  of  every  man  to  read  them  under  his  re¬ 
sponsibility  to  God  ;  and  justification  by  the  merits  of 
Jesus  Christ,  through  faith  alone. 

The  rapid  increase  of  the  “  Church  of  Jesus  ”  in  Mex¬ 
ico  is  fitted  to  awaken  strong  hopes  for  the  future.  It 
counts  now  (in  1875)  over  fifty  congregations.  Many 
of  these  are  small,  but  others  number  from  three  to  four 
hundred,  and  in  some  villages  the  larger  part  of  the  pop¬ 
ulation  is  embraced.  The  reformation  in  morals  is  in 
such  places  very  observable.  It  is  safe  to  reckon  that 
over  six  thousand  souls  are  at  this  time  under  the 
influence  of  the  Church.  An  evidence  of  the  extent 
to  which  the  work  has  spread  was  furnished  by  the 
visit  of  delegations  from  remote  congregations,  some 
of  whom  have  traveled  many  miles. 

As  in  Apostolic  days,  the  converts  are  largely  “the 
poor  of  this  world  rich  in  faith.”  The  obloquy  en¬ 
countered,  and  the  worldly  sacrifices  to  be  made  are 
great  obstacles  in  the  way  of  persons  of  high  social 
position.  It  is  “  hard  for  the  rich  man  to  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  God.”  The  spirit  of  persecution  is 
none  the  less  bitter  because  its  outward  demonstrations 
arc  checked  by  law.  There  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that 
the  present  Government  is  sincere  in  its  desire  to  en¬ 
force  the  laws  of  toleration,  and  it  succeeds  in  the  capi¬ 
tal  as  well  as  could  be  expected.  But  in  remote  dis¬ 
tricts  its  arm  is  comparatively  weak,  while  an  ignorant 
and  fanatical  populace  is  easily  incited  to  violence. 
The  “Church  of  Jesus”  in  Mexico  has  had  its  martyrs 
and  confessors.  But  the  spirit  of  genuine  Christi- 


25 


anity  is  shown  not  only  in  willingness  to  suffer  and  die 
for  Christ,  but  also  in  the  return  of  good  for  evil  and 
blessings  for  curses.  There  has  been  little  complaint 
heard  from  the  sulfering  Church.  Indignities,  revilings, 
and  outrages  have  been  patiently  borne,  and  “  with  well 
doing  they  seek  to  put  to  silence  the  ignorance  of 
foolish  men.”  Like  the  early  Christians  they  are 
assailed  by  false  and  odious  accusations. 

While  the  evangelist  is  exposed  to  obvious  dangers 
from  fanatical  bigotry,  there  is  not  the  same  risk  for  the 
native  worker  as  for  the  foreigner.  The  missionary 
from  abroad  arouses  national  and  political  as  well  as 
religious  prejudices.  And  herein  is  largely  the  hope 
and  promise  of  the  movement  under  consideration.  It 
is  of  Mexican  origin,  and  carried  forward  by  native 
laborers.  Peradventure  God  in  His  Providence  is 
thus  preparing  the  way  for  the  extension  of  the  pure 
Gospel  among  the  millions  on  this  continent  speaking 
the  Spanish  tongue.  We  know  how  inaccessible  they 
have  seemed  to  missionary  enterprise.  But  let  a  Mex¬ 
ican  Church  be  established,  presenting  the  truth  as  it 
is  in  Jesus,  and  the  light  thus  enkindled  would  extend 
its  beams  to  the  Antilles  and  the  Continental  Spanish 
American  States.  A  great  company  of  preachers 
would  go  forth,  sister  churches  would  spring  up,  and 
light-towers  be  kindled  along  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
coasts.  Nay,  it  is  no  extreme  supposition  that  the 
radiance  will  extend  across  the  ocean,  and  that  from 
the  countries  to  which  Spain  sent  her  fierce,  armed 
propagandists  in  the  i6th  century,  may  be  returned  to 
her  the  much-needed  influences  of  pure  and  Apostolic 
Christianity.  Such  hopes  are  not  to  be  put  aside  as 
idle  dreams,  when  we  see  what  has  already  been  done. 
A  Reformed  Church,  numbering  more  than  fifty  con¬ 
gregations,  and  celebrating  its  worship  in  grand  tem¬ 
ples  in  the  very  heart  of  the  City  of  Mexico,  has  been 


26 


gathered  within  the  space  of  ten  years,  in  the  face  of 
virulent  prejudice  and  fanatical  opposition. 

Surely  such  a  work,  opening  such  prospects,  may 
well  cheer  the  hearts  and  encourage  the  hopes  of  the 
lovers  of  truth  and  holiness. 

To  our  own  Church  is  the  appeal  for  sympathy  and 
aid  urgently  made,  and  much  depends  on  the  way  in 
which  it  is  received  and  the  response  with  which  it  is 
met.  To  us  the  hearts  and  wishes  of  that  which  is  in 
truth  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Mexico,  are  now  turned. 
We  can  impart  to  them  gifts  that  none  others  can,  and 
gifts  upon  which  they  set  a  high  value.  We  can  en¬ 
gage  with  peculiar  advantage  in  a  grand  and  holy  work. 
“  A  great  door  and  effectual  is  opened  unto  us  of  the 
Lord.”  If  it  be  added,  “  and  there  are  many  adversa¬ 
ries,”  this  is  no  new  experience  in  the  history  of 
Christ’s  religion.  Alfred  Lee. 


APPENDIX. 

Since  the  publication  of  the  foregoing  statement 
in  the  Church  Review,  October,  1875,  a  new  shape 
has  been  given  to  the  Reformation  in  Mexico  by 
the  proceedings  of  the  Mexican  Commission  and  the 
action  of  the  Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  thereupon.  The  Commission,  after  very  full 
and  earnest  consideration  of  the  report  made  by  the 
visiting  Bishop,  and  the  accompanying  documents, 
accepted  and  approved  his  report.  Among  the  resolu¬ 
tions  adopted  were  the  following : 

“  Whereas,  In  the  opinion  of  this  Commission,  there 
is  sufficient  evidence  of  the  existence  in  Mexico  of 
Presbyters  and  brethren  who  are  Mexican  citizens,  ow¬ 
ing  no  allegiance  to  the  Government  of  these  United 
States,  but  recognizing  the  Episcopate  of  this  Church, 
and  seeking  further  organization  under  its  nursing  care ; 

“  Resolved,  That  the  record  of  Synodical  action, 


27 


and  other  documents  laid  before  us,  indicate  the  pro¬ 
visional  organization  of  a  Church  in  Mexico,  which  jus¬ 
tifies  our  recognition  of  such  Church  under  Article  X. 
of  our  Constitution.” 

'' Resolved,  we  recognize  the  fact  that  said  Church 

has  certified  to  us  the  election  of  two  Presbyters  as 
Missionary  Bishops  of  said  Church  by  due  Synodical 
action ;  but  finding  the  testimonials  furnished  in  evi¬ 
dence  of  said  election  in  some  respects  less  than  a  full 
equivalent  of  the  formulated  testimonials  under  which 
the  Episcopate  was  imparted  to  our  own  Church,  we 
hereby  respectfully  suggest  that  such  testimonials  as 
shall  be  equivalent  thereto  be  further  supplied  by  the 
aforesaid  Church  in  Mexico,  according  to  historical 
forms  to  be  by  us  sent  for  their  consideration.” 

The  Commission  also  ^resolved  to  lay  before  the 
Bishops  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  a  formal 
Covenant  or  Articles  of  Agreement  between  the  Bish¬ 
ops  and  “  The  Mexican  Branch  of  the  Catholic  Church 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  Militant  upon  Earth”  (the 
title  assumed  by  said  Church  at  its  Synodical  meet¬ 
ing  in  August,  1875),  further  and  definite  settle¬ 
ment  of  relations  with  said  Church  in  Mexico. 

After  hearing  and  discussion  of  this  report,  the  fol¬ 
lowing  action  was  taken,  nejnine  contradicente  : 

1.  “  Resolved,  That  the  Bishops  in  Council  learn, 
with  deep  gratitude  to  Almighty  God,  the  facts  pre¬ 
sented  in  the  Report  of  their  Commission,  and  heartily 
desire  to  render  fraternal  aid  in  the  full  settlement  of 
‘  The  Mexican  Branch  of  the  Catholic  Church  of  Our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  Militant  upon  Earth,’  in  its  pos¬ 
session  of  Scriptural  truth  and  apostolic  order.” 

2.  “  Resolved,  That  the  Bishops  in  Council  by  their 
Commission  to  be  appointed  with  full  authority  to 
represent  them  (thes  d  ''i-hcp  )  hi  conclusive  action, 
agree  to  the  ratification  of  Articles  of  Agreement  with 
the  Me.xican  Church  aforesaid,  duly  rejiresent 'd  by  its 


28 


regularly  constituted  Synodical  authority,  and  the 
Commission  to  be  appointed  for  that  purpose  is  here¬ 
by  empowered  to  correspond  with  the  representatives 
of  the  said  Mexican  Church  in  order  to  the  final 
ratification  of  the  aforesaid  Articles  of  Agreement.” 

After  the  adoption  of  these  resolutions,  the  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  first  Commission  were  reappointed. 

The  action  of  the  Bishops  was  not  only  in  itself 
most  satisfactory  to  the  friends  of  this  infant  Church, 
but  eminently  gratifying  in  its  cordial  unanimity. 
This  important  movement  has  now  the  avowed  sym¬ 
pathy  of  our  Episcopate.  While  the  work  is  opening 
wonderfully  in  Mexico,  its  advocates  here  are  placed 
in  a  new  and  highly  favorable  position.  What  is  now 
needed  is  such  material  aid  as  will  insure  the  carrying 
forward  of  its  operations,  and  relieve  those  at  its  head 
from  harassing  pecuniary,  anxieties.  The  native 
laborers  have  manifested  eminent  self-denial,  and  are 
content  with  the  scantiest  support.  Even  this  has 
been  of  late  uncertain,  and  fears  have  been  entertained 
lest  it  might  be  necessary  to  disband  some  of  the 
workers,  and  narrow  the  field  of  operations,  when  the 
Providence  of  God  seemed  to  point  so  clearly  to 
enlargement.  Seldom  is  such  an  opportunity  given 
to  a  Church  as  that  which  is  now  extended  to  us. 
Earnest,  generous  embrace  of  this  great  opening  will 
tell  upon  the  future  of  pure  Christianity  upon  this  con¬ 
tinent  in  a  way  that  we  can  scarcely  limit. 

Let  our  Church  respond  with  one  heart  to  a  call  so 
unwonted  and  so  urgent.  A.  Lee. 


The  League  in  aid  of  the  Mexican  Branch  of  the 

Church. 

With  the  cordial  approval  of  the  Mexican  Com¬ 
mission  of  Bishfjps,  a  “  League  in  aid  of  the  Mexican 


29 


Branch  of  the  Church”  has  been  organized  to  assist 
in  raising  the  funds  needed  to  continue  and  extend 
the  Christian  work  of  that  branch  of  the  Church. 

Contributions — whether  large  or  small-- -in  aid  of 
that  work  are  earnestly  solicited,  and  can  be  mailed 
directly  to  the  address  of  the  treasurer  of  “  The 
League.” 

d'he  officers  of  the  “  League  ”  are  : 

President :  Mrs.  Fordyce  Barker,  85  Madison  Ave.,  N.  Y. 

Vice-President :  Miss  A.  E.  Tweddle,  107  E.  36th  St.,  N.  Y. 

Corresponding  Secretary :  Miss  C.  A.  Hamilton,  17  West  20th 
St.,  New  York,  U.  S. 

Recording  Secretary :  Mrs.  Heman  Dyer,  32  St.  Mark’s  Place,  N.Y. 
Treasurer :  Miss  M.  A.  Stewart  Brown,  21  West  34th  St.,  N.  Y. 

Care  of  Messrs.  Brown  Brothers  &  Co.,  59  Wall  Street,  New  York,  U.  S 


Extracts  from  a  communication  from  the  Bishops 
connected  with  the  Mexican  Comfnissioti. 

The  undersigned,  placed  by  the  House  of  Bishops 
upon  the  Commission  in  charge  of  the  relations  of 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States, 
with  the  “  Mexican  Branch  of  the  Catholic  Church 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  militant  upon  earth,”  have, 
in  the  discharge  of  duties  thus  devolved  on  them, 
become  deeply  impressed  with  the  extreme  impor¬ 
tance  of  the  spiritual  movement  now  going  on  in  the 
development  and  organization  of  the  work  of  their 
Mexican  brethren  ;  and  also  with  the  pressing  need 
of  the  continued  liberal  assistance  of  the  work  by  our 

branch  of  the  Church . 

The  “nursing  care”  of  our  Church  is  pledged  to 
her  infant  sister,  in  the  covenant  now  ratified,  under 
the  authorization  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  for  the  im- 


30 


partation  to  her,  in  due  season,  of  the  gift  of  the  Epis¬ 
copate.  It  is  our  confident  trust  that  our  brethren  of 
the  Clergy,  and  of  the  Laity,  will  not  be  wanting  on 

their  part,  in  redeeming  the  pledge  so  made . 

It  rarely  falls  to  the  lot  of  Christians  to  have  so  fa¬ 
vorable  an  opportunity  of  helping  forward  the  Blessed 
Master’s  work  by  contributing  freely  of  their  worldly 
goods. 

As  firmly  maintaining  the  faith  once  delivered  to 
the  saints,  even  to  the  very  death  ;  and  as  faithfully 
working  against  the  most  bitter  opposition,  and  un¬ 
der  the  deepest  discouragements,  in  the  Lord’s  great 
harvest,  with  very  manifest  tokens  of  His  blessing; 
we  most  earnestly  commend  our  sister  Church  in 
Mexico  to  the  love  and  zealous  aid  of  all,  of  both 
sexes,  and  of  every  station  in  our  own  branch  of  the 
Church  of  Christ. 

(  Signed), 

William  R.  Whittingham,  Chairman. 
Alfred  Lee, 

G.  T.  Bedell, 

Wm.  Bacon  Stevens, 

John  B.  Kerfoot, 

A.  Cleveland  Coxe, 

A.  N.  Littlejohn, 

Members  of  the  Commission. 


Rectors  of  churches  are  earnestly  asked  to  aid  the 
work  of  the  Church  in  Mexico  by  imparting  informa- 
'  tion  about  it,  by  encouraging  their  congregations  and 
Sunday-schools  to  contribute  in  its  behalf,  and  by 
naming  committees  as  branches  of  the  League  in  their 
parishes. 

Please  remember  that  contributions,  even  the  small¬ 
est,  can  be  mailed  directly  to  the  address  of  the  treas¬ 
urer  of  the  “  League,”  and  that  immediate  aid  is  press- 
ingly  needed. 


.[  G  N  A  C  I  O  M  A  R  U  ]<  1  . 

PPVbBVlKK  Ot  THE  MEXICAN  BRANCH  OF  THE  CHURCH. 


